English

Type of Qualification

AQA GCSE for Language and Literature

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse

Course Content

The English Language and Literature GCSEs cover a wide and varied range of topics, texts and genres. The course leads to 2 GCSE qualifications

These include:

• Extracts of 20th and 21st century literary fiction.
• Extracts of 19th and 20th century literary non-fiction.
• Shakespeare (Macbeth).
• 19th century novels (A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens).
• 20th century drama (An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley).
• A range of poetry from the 18th century to the modern day based around the theme of Power and Conflict.

For GCSE English students will focus on the following key skills:

• Reading fluently, and with good understanding of, a wide range of texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. It will include literature and literary   non-fiction as well as other writing such as reviews and articles.
• Reading and evaluating texts critically and making comparisons between them.
• Summarising and synthesising information or ideas from texts.
• Using knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing.
• Writing effectively and coherently using Standard English appropriately.
• Using grammar correctly and punctuating and spelling accurately.
• Acquiring and applying a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language.
• Listening to and understanding spoken language and using spoken Standard English effectively.

How is the course assessed?

English Language

 2 x final examinations of 1 hour and 45 minutes each

English Literature

1 x final examination of 1 hour and 45 minutes

1 x final examination of 2 hours and 15 minutes

Where will this course take me?

An English Language GCSE is sought after for sixth forms, colleges, apprenticeships and most forms of employment.

An English Literature GCSE will provide you with skills such as infering and deducing key information. It provides you with a rich, cultural knowledge along with an appreciation of words and the power they hold. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR KS3 ENGLISH subject information